MASTER LEAGUE ONLINE - A NEW ERA?

Welcome back once again to THE PRO EVO MASTERS LEAGUE! To those of you that are new to the site, I welcome you also. 

The full emphasis on today's post is MASTER LEAGUE ONLINE in PES 2012. It shocks me to say this, but I have probably had the most fun playing this mode recently, but also feel the element of PES 5 back in my system once again.

Some people may not be thinking the same way I am about this version of PES, but compared to last years dismal effort of a game, this version has definitely brought me back some memories of the better eras. I haven't however always thought this was the case, especially a few weeks into playing it. For me, this week has seen a turning point in my campaign for online domination.

At one point in my playing career, I could easily beat other players with my speed and dribbling skills, but over the years, something happened to the game itself. My skills faded into the depths of oblivion, leaving with me the remnants of a forgotten time. Was I ever going to reclaim glory for myself? Or have I had my time and with it leave the legacy to the new breed of players?

Well for some reason, I had a brainwave. I have used many tactics and strategies over the years. My skills added to those factors, allowing for multiple winning streaks. But the past few versions have been seen to blow up the amount of tactical changes you can make or adjust, with added skill combinations and newer player stats.

This year, I tried to implement my usual strategies and set-ups. They seemed to work on certain games, but then, low and behold, the opponent always gets their fill and steals the show. I was all but lost and felt like the breaking point of my campaign was about to snap! I had written many articles to compliment the achievements I had earned from a lower valued team, with added suggestions from fellow players, but there was always going to be a limit to the help I could give others in the same situation.

The recent events have shocked me beyond comprehension. All I made was one little change to my team and the series of matches that followed were truly amazing! From the last 6 games, I had one 5 and lost one. Not bad you say, but the real factor in these games, was the opponents I faced. 

Do you remember the times I have written about the setting that can be changed to pair you with similar level opponents? Well this does not always work! In my case, 70% of the opponents I end up being matched with were div 3 or higher (I am in div 5) and their teams were worth well over 200 million, compared to my 30 million team. 

What is the one thing I changed to counter the many losses I had conceded? Changing my team to a SPEED orientated team from the usual BALANCED side. Why did this affect the play so much? Well for a start, My faster players with TOP SPEED  stats went from around 86-87 up to 92-96! Having 5 attacking players with added speed stats boosted the hell out of them! 

I honestly thought that some opponents I had were cheating, but the truth is, they just had the speed based team with fast players. The same players I had, but seemed to run like they had a firework stuffed in some awkward place!  

So the moral of the post is that if you prefer to play with a fast team, then change your setting. Your low value team could certainly come up trumps. Will my fortune last however? We will see!

Thanks for reading, Pro Evo Bob!